MACAU – In what felt like a home game in front a friendly crowd, Dong Hyun Kim continued his move back into title contention with a hard-fought victory over Paulo Thiago.

The Korean threatened with submission attempts but ultimately settled for a lopsided unanimous-decision victory.

The welterweight bout was part of the main card of Saturday’s UFC on FUEL TV 6 event at CotaiArena in Venetian Macau Resort Hotel. It aired on FUEL TV following prelims on Facebook.

Kim, who was the week’s most popular fighter during media and fan events during the UFC’s China debut, didn’t disappoint.

The first round was all about survival for Thiago. Kim secured a single leg and ultimately scored a trip takedown before transitioning to the Brazilian’s back. Thiago spent more than four minutes fighting off rear-naked-choke attempts, but he ate a steady stream of punches during the process.

Thiago threatened with own submission in the following round after wrestling Kim to the mat and trying a kimura. Kim seemingly escaped, but Thiago maintained his grip and repositioned with the hold. However, after eating a few knees to the body, Thiago ultimately gave it up, and Kim popped him with knees and elbows from top position before a D’arce choke attempt late in the round.

After a horribly off-mark spinning backfist to open the final frame, Kim regrouped, corralled Thiago, and then took his back. He eventually forced him back to the canvas and closed out the fight with heavy ground and pound.

He didn’t get the stoppage, but he left no doubt with the judges, and Kim earned the unanimous-decision win via 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27 scores.

Kim (16-2-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC), who followed an undefeated start to his career with a recent 1-2 skid, gets back in the win column. Thiago (14-5 MMA, 4-5 UFC), meanwhile, could receive his walking papers following his fourth loss in five fights, though the defeats have come to the division’s elite.

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